We wanted to honour those Liberal Democrats that our readers felt were true stars of 2015, which has been one of the toughest years in our party’s history. Over the past few days, we have sought out nominations and now have a rather impressive list that we’ll be publishing in instalments during this week. Here is the first part. Their names come with the comments made about the contribution they have made. Some are parliamentarians, some are councillors, most are grassroots activists. Let’s celebrate them and the many others who are fighting fto keep that Liberal Democrat flame alive. These are our Liberal Democrat stars of 2015.

Mathew Hulbert

For welcoming me into the party, being a guiding light, and a voice of sense

Kirsty Williams

For her excellent advocacy work for my friends throughout the last 6 months.

Gwynoro Jones

Jo Swinson

Not only was Jo very persistent on Twitter about discussing candidacy with me but she is an idol for young women in the party for tirelessly working towards addressing gender equality and issues that I am very passionate about.

Charley Hasted and Ems Simpson

For creating the new Welfare and Access role in Liberal Youth and all their hard work in the role since their election as well as being incredibly friendly and supportive

Henry Foulds

For their constant enthusiasm and focus on improving diversity in the party, encouraging the use of plain text manifestos to become best practice in Liberal Youth elections.

Morgan Griffith-David

For all his fantastic work for the party over the past year. As Policy Officer to the Welsh Lib Dems he has worked tirelessly on the manifesto as well as ensuring the success of our conferences as well as putting up with the policy committee through some difficult meetings. In addition to this he has been a wonderful friend to IR Cymru encouraging new members to get involved, particularly at conferences by aiding and speaking. Finally he has been constantly supportive and helpful and appears to know the answer to almost any query to do with policy or Welsh politics.

Elaine Bagshaw

Elaine has worked tirelessly for the party both locally and Nationally throughout 2015, Not only was she involved with organising Team 2015, She was also the Parlimentary candidate in Poplar and Limehouse. Straight after the GE was over we in Tower Hamlets got chucked into a Special Mayoral Election.

Elaine was our candidate and this time we fought it with the limited resources at our disposal and Elaines star power we doubled our share of the vote and were the only party in the election to increase our total number of votes compared to 2014. She shone at hustings and excelled on the doorsteps. We ran an innovative social media campign which attracted a lot of attention

She not only excels herself she also inspires and enables others to do things they would not otherwise do a prime example her was the Boleyn ward By-election in Newham. Not only did she largely co-ordinate Sheree’s campaign she also played a part in persuading Sheree to stand in the first place (Sheree is a fairly new member and had never stood for anything before but is a natural on the doorstep) in a ward we had never fought before to gain 2nd place with a 5 week campaign says a lot about both Elaine and Sheree and the sheer number of people they were able to persuade to come and help

Elaine has re-invigorated our local party getting us working again and working sensibly playing to peoples strengths and keeping us all singing from the same hymn sheet. We were out delivering on the 23rd Dec and will be out again on the 29th We have got sensible if difficult goals and while she has no magic wand and can’t make everything better she has given us back our sense of purpose and a feeeling of self belief that all things are possible.

She is the candidate for the City and East constituency seat on the Greater London assembly in 2016 ,a truly massive prospect (encompassing 6 parlimentary seats and 3 London boroughs plus the city of London) and has managed to devise a credible campaign plan that wil result in us fighting sensibly across the seat for the first time ever.

I have been active in this party for 10 years and been to a lot of places and helped at an awful lot of elections and I can say honestly that Elaine is one of the best campigners it has ever been my privelege to encounter.

If you have someone you think should be mentioned in our Roll of Honour, it’s not too late to tell us.

2 Comments

I would like to nominate Cllr Will Forster, a Borough and County Councillor in Woking. He has led the local Council Group as leader with tenacity and good humour. I have watched Will grow into the role of campaigner for quite a few years. In him I see dogged determination and an enormous capacity for work on behalf of local residents. He is a true Liberal and a true Democrat……Can’t ask for anything more! 😉

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